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Why go Gen ?

lcsrep11

Active Member
19/8/17
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You won’t find honest answer from Rolex themself - they would never tell you truth anyway.

So firstly its do some more research, now I won't find the answer. lol

Do you think i don't know this its what ive said numerous times over and over again. You are just presuming what the cost is, really you have no idea. No one does. Read all the forums and opinions you like you not get the answer. Just as i've no idea how much it costs to make my TV.

End of the day most Rolex are a good investment especially the Daytona its one of the most sought after watches in the world, has been for years and more than likely will continue. They make decent solid watches that sell very well. Even if you pay premium for a daytona you more than likely will make money.
 

Koric

Known Member
4/6/18
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I'm turning 40 in a few months and I wanted to get myself a sub no date. I started researching about the watch and read a bunch of forums. I was disappointed to learn that the quality control of Rolex have gone to shit and to watch out for really good fakes when buying second hand. My curiosity of these good fakes led me to this website and the rest is history. I've already bought an SD43 and now am looking to purchase a no date sub. I have better things to spend my money on than to get a gen Rolex.
 

peterpl

Put Some Respect On My Name
24/7/11
4,667
636
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All of us have had the same feelings over and over. Is the gen worth it or not. I myself was one of these skeptics and for a long long long time. Why spend $40k on a watch when I can buy a fake that looks 90% the same and no-one else will know.

Well you yourself knows. And honestly Rolex QC is 1000x better than any rep its just that ppl expect perfection on a $10k - $50k watch and zoom in 20x pics and at that resolution there is no such thing as perfection.

At the end of the day a gen is a gen and there is no other feeling than wearing a gen watch. I still have 40+ reps but I also have a shitload of gen Rolex's now and probably spent over $200k just on Rolex gens. (currently own 2 x DD40s, 1 x RG Sky, 1 x 116613LB, 1 x 116713LN, 1 x DJ41, 1 x SD - the list goes on).

What I learnt is after spending 1000s on rep Rolex's your OCD will get to you and everyone eventually ends up with a gen Rolex sooner or later. :)
 

rcom440

Put Some Respect On My Name
10/11/12
5,820
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So firstly its do some more research, now I won't find the answer. lol

You will find true answer but Not from Rolex - rolex only will tell you totall bull like it takes them 1 year to produce Rolex watch. There are people who went over this many times and there is no way it takes one year to produce Rolex watch. Check some of the watshmith forums. They explain everything piece by piece.
i don’t feel like continuing this conversation. Please do not believe everything Rolex says. they want to create this special illustration about their watches. They are doing that right now with cuting down on production of steel Rolex sport watches.
 
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guru

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I have a number of genuine Rolex's and a couple of genuine German watches. I don't buy genuine any more I rarely wear my genuine versions. Only if I'm around really geeky watch people.

Rolex is doing what DeBeers have been doing for the longest time market manipulation. It all started with the Daytona Stainless Steel. By limiting the numbers they created a situation where the resale price was constantly dramatically higher than the recommended retail price. Permeating the legend that Rolex's go up in value in the last 10 years they've expanded this to all the stainless steel sports watches and it is super annoying.

If you walk into any Rolex boutique or official dealer around the world and ask for a stainless steel Daytona or any Stainless Steel GMT or Sub- Mariner they will laugh at you like you are crazy I really really hate this because it's so stupid. If you want to buy the solid gold version of any of the above you can get them from stock. In fact Ceramic Stainless steel Daytona's are now going for over $20,000. A good example is the GMT stainless steel I was offered one the other day for $22,000 you can get a nearly new yellow gold for that.

Rolex are upping the anti now with the stupid rules around not being able to resell the watch blah blah blah it's ridiculous.

Apart from the strap and clasp the new sub- mariner and ceramic Daytona with the 4130 movement are getting scarily close to genuine. And that's only if you are holding in your hand and kind of know what you're doing on the wrist I challenge even a Rolex specialist to really tell what's going on. I put Everest bands on my replicas, I also work with a whole bunch of watch snobs and no one has even questioned these new generation reps.

The only shame is that they haven't figured out the CHS GMT yet but if they do like they did with the 4130 I think the market will crash. The new Daytona from noob is scary good.

And as you point out you get ridiculous servicing charges which are pointless. I used to have an AP I had it serviced twice then sold it (at a loss of course) after I was charged well over $1000 per time for the service... Seriously it's a watch not a Bentley.

As with DeBeers and diamonds the replica/man-made versions are getting so good that even they are producing their own man-made diamonds to try and control the market.

I reckon in the next three or four years there will be sports Rolex's that are indistinguishable from the real thing. Minus the strap.

Their new policy of controlling supply and demand is going to blow up... It's just a matter of when not if.

really good write up.

I have owned a GMT in 2004, a Sub and a Daytona. Not much difference anymore. I went to a AD last year and it is true, the loughed at me when I asked for the new Daytona. Paying +8k over list is crazy.


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guru

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Prove me wrong. Show me official figures from rolex stating how much a watch costs to make.

Once in a lifetime a Rolex employee is allowed to buy a Rolex and pay cost. I know from a good friend, he is working for the company, he paid 1175 swiss for a SS Sub which is about 8k euro now!
Other companies do the same, but employees can buy every xmas. A PAM for 800 euros which sells for 6K.
Just need to mention, they all come without box and papers.
I own a 3717 which I got from a friemd who works in Schaffhausen and I paid him 750 euro, brand new!



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lcsrep11

Active Member
19/8/17
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that is the price he wants, but nobody will pay that price. Far far away


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That is a watch from a well respected jeweller local to me. That watch has also never been worn still has original stickers so is more of a collectors item and will appeal more for investment purposes its not a watch someone will buy with intention to wear it. Someone will buy it because theres a very good chance it will be worth more in 5 years 10 years or 50 years and right now its better than money in the bank.
 
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efthimis

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20/6/15
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That’s why!!

84a47e6e4ac90efd7a395e4faec9d7cd.png



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guru

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That is a watch from a well respected jeweller local to me. That watch has also never been worn still has original stickers so is more of a collectors item and will appeal more for investment purposes its not a watch someone will buy with intention to wear it. Someone will buy it because theres a very good chance it will be worth more in 5 years 10 years or 50 years and right now its better than money in the bank.

This is 2014 model with 1 tick and SL, collectors are looking for the latest year with 2 tick and CL. Chrono 24 has a lot like this around 15 k, all new and unworn with stickers.


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lcsrep11

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This is 2014 model with 1 tick and SL, collectors are looking for the latest year with 2 tick and CL. Chrono 24 has a lot like this around 15 k, all new and unworn with stickers.


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Regardless what year it is it will still go up in value inflation and Rolex price increases will see to that, not to mention with it being discontinued the numbers of these watches will dwindle away through breakages and losses that happen as do with anything. I don't think he will have any problems getting 17k to 18k for it. Not saying i would buy it but someone will.
 

LV311

Horology Curious
9/2/17
9
6
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Gen has a different feeling.
I have a couple gen Rolexes and an LV Extreme V7 from Tc and, while superbly made, I know it's not real and don't get the same enjoyment out of it.
I always take it with me when traveling though, I would never want my gens to be stolen :)
 
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MarksandSpencer

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24/4/17
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Prove me wrong. Show me official figures from rolex stating how much a watch costs to make.

You do make some valid points, but it is worth considering that like any business it's in Rolex's interests to ensure production costs are as low as possible, whereas their markup is as high as possible. Marketing helps to convince prospective buyers a good/service is worth the retail price being demanded for it, regardless of what is actually cost to make.

Rolex is an incredibly profitable institution, and despite spending hundreds of millions collectively on R&D, marketing, rent etc, production is probably the easiest place for Rolex to cut costs and one in which Rolex has the most control over. If rep factories are achieving what they are at $500 while making a 'handsome' profit, it can only be sensible to think that Rolex costs are probably quite close to what others have predicted (under $1000). Just look at Tudor they produce watches that are 80%+ Rolex quality for less than 50% of the price, and I bet they make a chunky profit so what does that spell for Rolex?

Also to finish, Rolex's main customer base only comprises of a tiny number of enthusiasts, most of their customers just want to wear the name and don't care for much else which further makes it easier for them to skimp out on both quality and quality control.
 
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MarksandSpencer

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24/4/17
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Gen vs rep is an age old question, one that was born at the inception of this hobby and will continue. There are pros and cons of owning either.

However, the plain truth is that there is no right or wrong answer; get what makes you happy. But be under no illusion that no matter how good the rep is, it is and always will be a rep, but if it makes you happy wear it and enjoy it, just don't go masquerading it as the real thing.

Personally I am quite new to the hobby of watches as a whole and even more new to the rep game. After buying my first rep I was astounded by the level of quality I was getting for the price point, certainly pound for pound better than any micro brand watch I had purchased in the past. However, recently I've felt more disinterested in reps, more so because to me they don't feel as special as gens. So I've now decided to progress onto frankens with also the aim of getting a gen later this year. I feel once I've covered all the bases (owning a franken, gen and using them for a while/getting them serviced etc) I will feel in a much better position to answer the question for myself. I do anticipate my collection will feature a mixture of all of them.
 
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mech500

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6/4/12
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^ will you be getting a Franken Sub?

I wouldn’t bother spending 1000s on a Franken (ie fake sub), when almost everyone around you (in the world) has a gen sub.




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MarksandSpencer

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24/4/17
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^ will you be getting a Franken Sub?

I wouldn’t bother spending 1000s on a Franken (ie fake sub), when almost everyone around you (in the world) has a gen sub.




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The franken is an AP 15400, for the sub I am on a couple waiting lists lol. It will be my first gen and if I'm honest I'm not sure what to get, the sub is a bit boring and common, but it seems like the only logical choice. I do like the design though, despite it being a bit bland.
 

mech500

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The franken is an AP 15400, for the sub I am on a couple waiting lists lol. It will be my first gen and if I'm honest I'm not sure what to get, the sub is a bit boring and common, but it seems like the only logical choice. I do like the design though, despite it being a bit bland.

If i could have one gen only....it would be a sub. Everything could be rep. With Rolex the reps will never quite be enough.

Personally I wouldn’t suggest using a gen dial in a franken 15400 because the look will be limited by the rep hands.

I think rep 15400 Dial:hands are good enough (IMO).


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lcsrep11

Active Member
19/8/17
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The franken is an AP 15400, for the sub I am on a couple waiting lists lol. It will be my first gen and if I'm honest I'm not sure what to get, the sub is a bit boring and common, but it seems like the only logical choice. I do like the design though, despite it being a bit bland.

What about a GMT ? The sub has really grown on me lately but i always gravitate towards the GMT. Its great if you travel a lot too, very useful. Also the reps are way off if that was something that matters to you.
 

machim

Active Member
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What about a GMT ? The sub has really grown on me lately but i always gravitate towards the GMT. Its great if you travel a lot too, very useful. Also the reps are way off if that was something that matters to you.

That’s what I am heading to. Currently put down payment for 126711chnr. My dream watch and it gotta be gen. AD told me they should have it sometime this fall and I am th first on the list


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